D.C. United’s goalkeeper Bill Hamid has been dealt a major blow and will be out 4-6 months after undergoing knee surgery. This will be a large issue for a team so reliant on their defense and goalkeeping star. Hamid underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus that he suffered in preparations for the U.S. Men’s national team January camp. The injury and rehab has major repercussions for Hamid’s season with D.C. United, his national team status and any thoughts of making the jump to Europe will now be on hold as well.
Bill Hamid Has Been Dealt a Major Blow
It is no coincidence that D.C. United re-signed last year’s back up goalkeeper, Andrew Dykstra, on the same day that Hamid pulled out of USMNT camp with the knee injury. In the same token, D.C. was still in need of a back up keeper, so perhaps it was more coincidental than reactive by the team. Dykstra started 9 league games last season in which he recorded 40 saves and a 1.76 goals against per game, which would have placed him as 14th best in the league between NYCFC’s Josh Saunders (1.73 GAA) and Orlando City’s Tally Hall (1.78 GAA) had he kept up that pace across a full season. Bill Hamid had a 1.16 GAA, which was good for 6th best in the league. The half a goal difference (0.60 to be exact) is a huge margin, especially for a team that was only 13th in goals scored in 2015.
In a best case scenario, Hamid returns at the end of May when D.C. will have already played approximately 11 games. He could be back in time to face the Philadelphia Union in Chester, PA on May 20th. In a worst case scenario, Hamid returns at the end of July where he could possibly miss 19 games, more than half the season, to play Toronto F.C. at BMO field on July 23. If he rejoins his team in mid-season, it may be difficult to regain the familiarity of playing with his backline teammates right away. On a team that relies heavily on Hamid, this has the potential to be disastrous.
The timing of the injury could not have come at a worse time for his national team chances. Hamid had been called into the USMNT January training camp by Jurgen Klinsmann and was going in as the most senior keeper, in terms of national team caps. Most likely Hamid would have been looked at as the number one keeper in camp, the only other keepers in camp at the time were New York Red Bulls’ Luis Robles (one cap) and San Jose Earthquakes’ David Bingham (no caps). This was Hamid’s opportunity to showcase whether or not he has the tools to back up Tim Howard and Brad Guzan on the national team roster and perhaps eventually succeed them as the future national team’s top choice goalkeeper. Should Hamid have had the opportunity to showcase his abilities, he could have played as the top choice in the January friendlies against Iceland and Canada, followed up with potential call ups for the World Cup Qualifiers in March and Copa America Centenario in June. Each of those opportunities are now no longer options, with the most likely opportunity for a call up to occur again in September for the final two fourth round group stage world cup qualifiers. That is, if someone else hasn’t already solidified their spot as a back-up or successor yet.
Questions have risen over the past few seasons about when will Hamid make the expected move to Europe. He has followed a similar track as the current number one USMNT goalkeeper, Tim Howard, and thus is expected to follow in his footsteps. Hamid was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014 and came in second in 2015. His stock has certainly shot up and he is well aware that Jurgen Klinsmann has his eye on him. Last year after signing a new contract with D.C. United to become the highest paid goalkeeper in the league, he cited a reason for signing the multi-year deal as, “The best way for me to keep progressing right now, at 24 years old, is to keep playing. My national team coach says it, other coaches around the world say it, they need their players playing – and I’m playing,” While the lure of Europe is there for Hamid, unfortunately his current injury rules out any January transfer to Europe and most likely rules out the summer transfer window, as well, with the likely case of only playing a minimal amount of games to that point.
2016 was supposed to be a pivotal year for D.C.’s star goalkeeper; unfortunately, it will need to be a year to get healthy. A strong second half of the season showing by Hamid and he could lead D.C. into the playoffs and go into the next MLS offseason once again as a top goalkeeping option for the national team while rumors of a move to Europe could pick up again.
Main Photo: Alex Menendez, Getty Images
